I am a very big supporter of the First Amendment. Free speech is one of the qualities that make America great, and every American has a right to free speech.

But with rights come responsibilities. Too many people seem to forget that.

We are now in the heart of the holiday season. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, the Winter Solstice, or nothing at all, things will slow down a bit for the next week or so. For many people this time of year is a time to reflect on the accomplishments of 2024 and look forward to what lies ahead.

I love words. I have made my living with words, both spoken and written. Words are a powerful thing. Words have meanings and they can be used to build or destroy. But there is one word I’m tired of hearing. In part because it’s really being overused, and in part because I’m not sure that I know, or for that matter, the people who use the word know for sure just what it means. The word is….

Woke.

Now I’m not a lawyer. But I’m not an idiot either. I can read the ruling that District Court Judge Susan Strong wrote when she threw out the case against the medical marijuana petitioners and know that the opponents of medical marijuana should quietly go away and acknowledge that the people and the courts have spoken.

I wonder if their egos and political careers will let them just ride quietly into the sunset.